Sheet-metal can.



No. 667,537. Patented Feb. 5,'I90I.

G. LEES.

SHEET METAL CAN. (Application led Jan. 11, 1900. Renewed Aug. 15, 1900.) (No Model.)

UNirnn rares FFICE.

ATENT GEORGE LEES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND CHARLES C. HOVEY, OF BAINBRIDGE, NEW YORK.

SHEET-METAL CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,537, dated February 5, 1901.

Application filed January 11, 1900. Renewed August 15", 190D- Seri'al No. 26,986. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE LEES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Sheet- Metal Cans, of which the following is aspecifcation.

My invention relates to a sheet-metal can adapted to receive various articles of food and in which such articles of food are preserved 1o by exhausting the air and effecting the seal by atmospheric pressure.

In carrying out my present invention the upper edge of the sheet-metal can-'body is made with an outward and upward curved ange, preferably slightly concave in crosssection, and the edge of the sheet-metal cover is bent over and outward into a fiat ange with a circular downturned rib formed at the extreme edge and with the diameter of the zo cover within the said rib slightly greater than the diameter of the body at the flanged upper edge, and between these parts I employ a ru bber gasket, which by preference is round in cross-section. When the air is exhausted from the can by suitable means, the atmospheric pressure holds the cover down tightly upon the rubber gasket, forcing the same into the space between the cover and the curved flange of the body and also spreading the gasket over the said flange and into the space formed between the inner adjacent surfaces of the cover and the inner surface of the rib, thus completely and effectually sealing the can.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a sheet-metal can, illustrating my improvement. Fig. 2 is a partialvertical section of the sheet-metal body and cover with the gasket, the parts being in the position before 4o pressure is applied. Fig. 3 is a similar View to Fig. 2 with the parts in the position under pressure. Figs. 2 and 3 are shown of exaggerated size for clearness.

The sheet-metal body a may be of any desired size, shape, or character, and its upper edge is made with an outward and upward curved flange b, slightly concave in cross-section, and the edge of the sheet-metal cover c is bent over into a iiat ilauge CZ and provided 5o with a circular downturned rib d', formed at the extreme edge of the said flange d, and

the diameter of the cover across the under surface within the rib d is preferably slightly greater than the diameter across the body and its curved flange, and between these parts I employ a rubber gasket e. This may be of any form adapted to effect a seal by atmospheric pressure; but I prefer to employ a gasket that is round in cross-section, as the same more quickly accommodates itself under pres- 6o sure to the shape of the parts.

Fig. 2 shows the parts in a normal position before pressure is applied, and Fig. 3 shows the same parts with the rubber gasket under pressure, in which position the rubber is forced down into the outward and upward curved flange of the body and between the same and the vertical surface of the cover, and the said gasket also fits against the under surface of the fiat flange of the cover and 7o spreads outward against the surface of the downturned rib d' over the upper edge of the body-flange, so that the gasket its snugly against all of these parts to completely and effectually seal the can.

The devices for exhausting the air from the can and applying atmospheric pressure and devices for unsealing the can form no part of my present invention.

This can is cheaply made and is exceedingly 8o efcient in use, and the same can be used repeatedly without injury.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with the sheet-metal body of the can having an outward and up- A ward flange at its upper edge, of a cover fitting within the body of the can and having a flat flange bent outward therefrom and a circular rib at the edge and a rubber gasket between the said parts for completely and ef- 9o fectively sealing the can, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the sheet-metal body of a can having a flange at its upper edge formed by bending the same outward and upward and slightly curved, of a sheetmetal cover of slightly-dishing form fitting within the upper end of the body with the edge bent over into a dat flange extending outward and having a circular downturned roo rib formed at the extreme edge of the cover and a rubber gasket beneath the flat fiange of the cover and above the dan ged upper edge of the body adapted under pressure to till the space between the parts and eectively seal the can, substantially as set forth.

3. In a sheet-metal can, comprising a body and cover, an outward and upward curved flange at the upper edge of the body, a flat ange at the edge of the cover and extending ont from the main portion thereof and having a downturned rib formed at the extreme edge of the cover, and the diameter of the cover within the said rib greater than the diameter of the body across the flanged edge thereof, and a round rubber gasket between the ange GEO. LEES.

Witnesses:

RoLLIN S. STRARY, WM. BLAKE. 

